Celebrating 5 Years with Forgotten Harvest!
From Crisis to Community: How a Food Distribution Ministry Grew Out of a Pandemic
Have you seen the Forgotten Harvest line on Monday’s lately? Cars stretching through our parking lot, filled with families and neighbors hoping for something as simple—but essential—as a box of food. What began as a crisis response has grown into one of the most impactful ministries on our campus. It all started on September 14, 2020, in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. With job loss, uncertainty, and hunger affecting so many in our area, we partnered with Forgotten Harvest to become a weekly food distribution site. In the beginning, we served just over 100 households. We had no idea how big this would become—or how deeply it would shape our community. Fast forward to today: this ministry now serves over 450 households each week and continues to grow.
Behind that growth are countless hands and hearts. We’ve had incredible volunteers who have been with us since the very beginning—and many more who’ve joined along the way. Two of those original volunteers, Gene Stull and Marilyn Hamadeh, have played a vital role from day one. From organizing logistics to greeting guests and distributing food, Gene and Marilyn have been pillars of consistency and care. Their faithful presence has helped transform a simple drive-through line into a place of welcome, dignity, and extra-mile hospitality. But this isn’t just about distributing food. It’s about building trust, meeting practical needs, and showing up—again and again. It’s about making sure every person who drives through knows they are seen, valued, and loved.
And the work continues. We’re always looking for helping hands—people ready to roll up their sleeves and serve others with joy. Whether you can commit weekly, monthly, or just once in a while, there’s a place for you here. Because this line of cars? It’s more than a line. It’s a sign of hope. And hope multiplies when we show up together.
Interested in getting involved?
Contact Naomi at naomi.mitchell@ward.church.
